Christensen No. 1 dam
Christensen No. 1
Christensen No. 1 is a private dam located in Fourth Crossing, California, along Steele Creek. Completed in 1951, this earth dam stands at 33 feet high and spans 750 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is flood risk reduction, but it also serves irrigation and water supply needs in the region.
Managed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and regulated by its Safety of Dams program, Christensen No. 1 has a low hazard potential and is reported to be in satisfactory condition as of its last assessment in September 2017. Despite its age, the dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and stability, with the most recent inspection conducted in December 2019.
With its strategic location and vital role in water resource management, Christensen No. 1 is a key infrastructure contributing to the overall resilience of the region against floods and water supply challenges. Its historical significance and ongoing maintenance highlight the importance of effective dam management in mitigating water-related risks in California.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Christensen No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Cosumnes R A Michigan Bar Ca | 253 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 572 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 186 cfs | → |
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 813 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christensen No. 1.
Campgrounds
- Acorn Campground
- Oak Knoll - New Hogan Lake
- Acorn - New Hogan Lake
- Gold Strike Village Campers
- Frogtown Rv Park
- Gloryhole Rec Area- Ironhorse - Usbr
Fishing spots
Track Christensen No. 1 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Christensen No. 1
Where does the data for Christensen No. 1 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Christensen No. 1.